Episode 9- The rain before maelstrom.
Next day, the magistrate received the evacuation orders from Confederates on orbit, and it changed nothing. At the time of receiving orders, colonists already were packed up and going towards the transit point, where they would gather, and move in bigger groups with more defenders towards the final step of their journey, an easy to defend and protect position. There is one problem however, the transit point wasn't ready, and the defense location, not found yet.
The group, composed of Magistrate, twenty marines and one rider finally arrived at the transit point, where they were supposed to meet the colony marshal. In fact, as their group stopped, they soon saw the clouds of dust rising after the vulture speeding towards them, a few minutes later, they met the marshal himself, sitting in his extra armored speeder.
"Well, well, well, if it isn't good ol Jimmy, it seems you found a respectable job, after all."
"Probably not much longer, what with all that evacuation and exploding planet around" Raynor was not surprised by Dobromir traveling with the group. Even if they haven't seen each other for years, the riders he knew, arriving and helping, was a dead giveaway. Adding the band's leader second in command, helping him directly, there wasn't a possibility of not meeting the now adult commanding the Riders.
The Magistrate exited the standard military truck he was traveling in, and turning to Jim he started "Time for idle talk later, have any colonists arrived yet?"
"One group from the closest settlement and a few loners from the desert. They are helping us setting up temporary shelters, and they are ready to go in a few minutes. We expect three other groups to arrive today, before the sun sets."
"Okay, we will talk more in depth in camp, guide us, Marshal." With that, the Magistrate returned to his transport, buckling up.
Nodding his head, Raynor mounted his bike, and started hovering forward, keeping pace with the slower vehicles. And the Giant Metal Chicken of course, which was running with the aid of busters on its wings, speeding it up.
The camp wasn't terribly big, a few ERK milling about, some constructing buildings, some gathering minerals, and some marines guarding the perimeter.
Parking in the clear middle, they were met with a heavily armored woman, sitting on an even more heavily armored gigantic boar, with tusks that could split a man in two with ease, that is, if they were blades of course.
"Commander, everything is going okay, for now. Some of our Riders repelled a few small attacks of the zerg, colonists were fine, at last the ones under our vigilance."
"That's good Katarina, join us, plans need to be made".
As soon as Magistrate exited his truck, he immediately started giving orders "Raynor, send people to scout the perimeter and clear it if needed".
Jim started doing just that, leading a few men with him a moment later.
"ERK!"
"Yes, sir?"
"Focus on fortifying our general position, and make it further out, we will need more space." The pilot gave a confirmation, and soon he and some of his comrades began constructing bunkers.
"Magistrate?"
"Yes?" he said, turning to the man sitting at the Giant Metal Chicken.
"We can offer advice in finding the best defensive location, and our enemy of course."
"Okay, better to get this over with, then colonists may be sent on their way. Our enemy, what should we be wary of?"
"Firstly: zergling, the small dog things, they are fast, and have wickedly sharp blades, strength in numbers, rather easy to kill with standard marine equipment. Secondly: Hydras, serpent-like, twice the size of marine, scythe-like blades, throw or spit poisoned spikes, both can puncture marine armor easily, not very fast. And lastly: Mutas, flying things that spits some acid and bounces around, not that dangerous, in small numbers that is."
"And locations? I was thinking of hunkering down in a city, lot's of cover and lake as additional defense."
"Too many fronts" Interjected the woman on boar "When they pass the river we will have too many problems, and no clear sight of fliers, so missile towers will be heavily limited when it comes to being useful."
"We scouted a few locations and thought this one would be the best suited", with that, she showed a device which lit up, and an image of terrain in the shape of a cauldron showed up. Defended by pointy mountain walls, from three sides, it pretty much was a one way in and out, not counting flyers. And expected dropships, of course. There was one problem though.
"The mouth is far too wide, and deeper in terrain is too uneven for small ships to land" pointed out the Magistrate.
"It's not too big of a problem though, just build landing platforms, and a few strategic walls to thin out the enemy from wave to small stream."
"I don't see it".
"Don't worry, I see it, and have experience. I will go with the first wave of colonists, just give me some ERKs and materials to start, and I will build you a fortress to withstand a lot."At the end of saying this, his eyes started to sparkle brightly and his voice rose, indicating his excitement.
Magistrate just stared at him for a moment, then just said "Okay, when the boys are finished, you can take most of them, just remember, lives are at stake."
"That's why I will build a fortress that will withstand anything zerg throw at us!"
With that he rushed out, to begin his preparation, starting with the colonists to make them understand.
"Aaaand… we lost him, you can count on the fortress, but nothing else from him, so I am leading the riders now".
"Does this happen often?" Asked, bewildered.
"From time to time, but the results are at last worth it."
"And the sparkling eyes? I know he was eccentric, but what's up with them?"
"Those would be his low grade psionics, you know, not enough to become an agent, but enough to let the eyes glow, from time to time."
They just stood/sat around for a moment, not doing anything. It was shortly interrupted when Raynor returned, with his bike scratched in a few places.
"We flushed out the rest of the buggers in the vicinity, no casualties."
"Well, I guess that's it, gather some colonists and begin training, we will produce more marine suits, we must fight if we don't want to die, and we already are stretched thin, and not strong enough."
As Jim hovered out, looking to repair his bike, Katarina exclaimed "I will look after the communication, and monitor the progress of the inbound colonists." She rode out, toward the command center.
Magistrate thinked for a moment, then decided to check on his people. Many were shaken, some seeing the monstrosities that were luckily slain by the riders before getting to them. But still, the giant spikes, needle teeth, and wickedly sharp claws, they know they were lucky to still live. The colonists that could, eagerly joined to be suited in marines armor, wanting to defend the lives of their families.
Next day another group of colonists arrived, only to immediately go with Dobromir and two of his riders as escort, the rest of colonists and most ERKs, to their final destination.
Not long after, Raynor went to the backwater station, who was calling for help. Seems the Confederacy still was just sitting and doing nothing. With him went a troop of militia packed in their trucks, and Katarina on her boar.
Magistrate remained behind, to oversee the camp, and direct those that remained. Future isn't bright, but better still than total damnation.